Arabic proverbs

Almost every culture has examples of its own unique proverbs. Here are some translated examples from Arabic:

From 88 Arabic Proverbs:

• Avoid the company of liars, but if you can’t, don’t believe them.

• The smarter you are, the less you speak.

• If you’re unable to reward, then make sure to thank.

• You can’t clap with one hand.

• Arrogance is a weed that grows mostly on a dunghill.

From Egyptian Arabic proverbs:

• Repetition teaches (even) a donkey.

• In his mother’s eye, the monkey is (as beautiful as) a gazelle.

• The carpenter’s door is falling apart.

• Trusting men is like trusting water in a sieve.

• Under the sheikh’s hat is a monkey.

Proverbs from the Saudi embassy in Tokyo:

• The rope man got mixed with the archer.

• If you were saved from the lion, do not be greedy and hunt it.

• If you know, it's a disaster. If you don't know, it's a greater disaster.

• The neighbour comes before the home.

• Dawn does not come twice to awaken a man.

From Some Yemeni proverbs:

• From a pound of talk, an ounce of understanding.

• Who dies today is safe from tomorrow's sin.

• If speech is of silver, silence is golden.

• You play with a snake and call it a worm.

• If you have honey, don’t lick the pot clean.

From Modern Lebanese proverbs:

• The son of a son is dear, the son of a daughter a stranger.

• When your son is young, discipline him; when he grows older, be a brother to him.

• When the wolf comes for the sheep, the dog goes to defecate.

• An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.